Movable table top



March 12, 1946. G. H. Bmz 2,396,242 l MOVABLE TABLE TOP Filed Nov. 26, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mill March 12, 1946. G. H. BlNz, 2,396,242

I v MOQABLE 'TABLE- TOP l Filed Nomea, 194s s sheets-sheet 2 Mmh 12, 1946. Q H- mz 2,396,242

MOVABLE l TABLE TOP Filed Nov. 2e, 1945 l s sheets-sheet s Patented Mar. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOVABLE TABLE T018y Gustave Harder Binz, Chicago, `Ill. Application November26, 1943; Serial No.. 511,774 7 onims.- (ci. 311-1) This invention relates to improvements in tables of the class utilized in connection with booths orcompartments wherein an elongated table top is xedly mounted between and in relatively close proximity to two elongated, for example two seat capacity, seats or benches.

Booths or compartments of the foregoing general arrangement are conventionally employed byA food and beverage dispensing establishments in compact multiple arrangement generally along a wall or in two rows divided by an intermediate end wall permitting entrance to and exit from each booth at only one end. In such compact fixed installations the seats are positioned close to the tables so as to provide the greatest amount of comfort and proximity of the table top to the booth occupants when seated. Conversely entrance to and exit from these booths is not generally possible in full standing position but require-s users to slide in or out in an intermediate crouched position or to move in and cut at best in a very narrow space. In addition to thefact such access is not as comfortable and convenient as might be desired, persons entering the booth and particularly those leaving often unavoidably brush their clothing on the table top and into contact with spilled water or other beverages or food particles in dishes remaining on the` table. Such soiling of clothing is particularly apt to occur to ladies coats and fur garments or other bulky garments and overcoats.

Itis therefore an object of my present invention to permit entrance to and exit from booths of the class described with greater facility and comfort and to greatly minimize the possibility of. soiling clothing by customers. I accomplish thisin general by providing the tables .with movable tops. More specically I interpose associated means between the table top, in either old or new installation, and the fixed standards or support means therefor which permits the outer or booth entrance end of the table to be moved laterally about a pivot adjacent the wall end of the table. This provides a relatively enlarged entrance or exit opening at the open end of the booth andA may first be provided at one side of the table and then at the other in turn, after which the table top may be xedly repositioned, locked or engaged in normal parallel spacing relationship between the opposed benches and employed for use in conventional manner.

Other objects relate to details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from aV consideration of the following specication and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a booth arrangement of the class described embodying a movable table top in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a booth construction viewed from the open end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4'-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional detaii views illustrating a method of engaging the wall and outer end slide bolts or pins to the respective end portion of the table top in thev form of con` struction shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 7 is an elevation in longitudinal section oi a modied form of construction, with the table top in maximum inward position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 9 but with the table top moved longitudinally and outwardly and in position to have its outer end pivoted laterally.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, the booth unit illustrated in Figs. l and 2 comprises an end or di vider wall lil, a pair of elongated parallel fixed Y seats or benches II, Il extending endwise to the wall Iii, and a xed parallel intermediately positioned table comprising a top I2, an outer supporting leg or standard I3 secured to the floor i4 and an inner end supporting bracket or ledge I5 secured to and extending from the Wall I0. Extending between the wall bracket I5, which may be substantially equal to the width of the table top I2 at its inner end, and inclining to the relatively narrower standard I3 are a pair of side members It, I6 which are of sufficient width to conceal the interrelated movable table top parts, hereinafter more fully described, and if necessary, to vertically stabilize the standard I3, which is not fixedly secured to and stayed by the table top as in prior conventional Xed top constructions.

From an observation of Figs. 1 and 2 which illustrate conventional positioning of the table and benches with respect to the end wall and their best approximate positioning with respect to each other, it wil1 be evident that the free vertical space between a longitudinal edge of the table top and the forward edge of an adjacent bench seat is limited so as to bring the table top in greatest proximity to a seated booth occupant. This limited spacing necessitates ingress and egress by a half sitting sliding movement with danger of brushing or sweeping of thetable top and matters thereon by the occupants" garments. particularly when leaving. In order to facilitate such' movements by occupants or proposed occupants to the greatest extent possible, I provide meansfor permitting the table top to be pivotally shifted as illustrated by the do-tted position of the table top in Fig. 1, so as to provide an enlarged angular opening between the side of the table andthe bench which permits seating with ease at an outer end of the table after which the first entrant may slide over against the wall and a seco-nd occupant to become likewise seated. The table top may thereafter be pivoted in the opposite direction to permit persons to become likewise seated on the opposite side, after which the table top is set in normal laterally fixed position intermediate and parallel to the two benches.

Figs. 1 to 6 disclose one arrangement in accordance with the present invention of means for permitting such' movement o-f the table top I2. Thus, although the top I2 is supported horizontally by the leg I3 and the wall bracketV I5, instead of being xedly secured to these parts as is conventional, it is movable laterally to a limited degree about a pivot after being released from longitudinally locked position. The movable mounting means comprises a guide plate II secured to the bracket I5 on the wall IIJ by suitable screws as at I8, the plate I1 projecting from th'e bracket and being formed with a slot I9, the plate being secured to the bracket in a position so as to cause the slot I9 to extend parallel to and midway between the lateral ends of the bracket I 5. It will be understood that instead of the bracket I5 being secured to the wall I0, the table top may be supported otherwise, such as by means of an additional leg or standard, such as the standard I3, in which case the bracket I5 or a similar projecting ledge such as the ledge 30 may be secured to such second standard. Secured to the underside of the top I2 adjacent its wall end and on its longitudinal axis is the keeper pin or headed bolt which extends through th'e slot I9 and is slidably engaged therethrough to the plate II by means of the nut 2I. Although the pin 2G may be secured to the underface of the top I2 in various other manners, such as for example direct threaded engagement, in order to facilitate installation I preferably secure it as illustrated by extending the bolt through a hanger plate 22, and aldx the plate 22 to the underface of the table by means of wood screws 23. The bolt or keeper pin 23 is positioned so that when it abuts the wall end of the slot I 9 it will cause the wall end of the table top I2 to remain slightly spaced from the wall I0, the spacing being for the purpose of avoiding accidental injury to the ngers of booth occupants or others when returning the table top to normal position. Ih'e hanger plate 22 is also maintained in spaced relation to the underside of the table by means of the spacer strips v24 so as to permit it to additionally act as a bearing plate slidable on the projection of the slotted guide plate II.

The underface of the forward or outer end portion of the table top I2 is likewise provided With a keeper pin or headed bolt 25 secured on the longitudinal axis of the table to-p by means of an attachment slide plate 26 and wood screws 2l, and held spaced for sliding movement on the guide plate 29 by means of the spacer strips 28. The guide plate 29 is suspended horizontally from the standard I3 through the projecting ledge 3) to which it is secured by means of screws 3i. The guide plate 29 is provided with' connecting slo-ts formed by the arcuate slot portion 32 and the bisecting radial slot portion 33, the arc of slot portion 32 being generated on a radius having a length equal to the distance between the fixed pins 2D and 25. The guide plate 29 is secured to the ledge 3U in a position whereby the slot portion 33, similar to the slot I9, lies normally along the longitudinal axis of the table top I2. The pin 25 extends through the slotted portion of guide plate 29 and is slidably engaged thereto by means of the nut 34.

The length of the slot 33, which' serves primarily to hold the table to-p in normal longitudinal position and locked against pivotal movement until desired, and slot I9 are substantially equal, and the spacing between the pins 26 and 25 is such that when the tabletop I2 is moved longitudinally towards th'e wall I il the pins both ride t0 abutment against the inner ends of their respective slots as illustrated in Fig. 4, and in such position the table top is held against lateral movement. Conversely when the table top is moved in a direction towards the booth entrance opening as illustrated by the dotted lines of Fig. 3, the pins are carried to the outer ends of their respective aligned slots. However, in this latter position the pin 20 abuts against the outer end of its slot I9 whereas the pin 25 may move in the connecting arcuate slot 34 in a lateral direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise about the pin 20 as a pivot, to the terminal ends of the slot 34, and to thereby permit an angular spacing of the table top from its adjacent benches II to provide an enlarged entrance or exit opening for the users thereof.

Although not shown, I may provide spring tension means for urging and retaining the table top to normal position, by for example securing one end of a coil spring to the undersurface of the table top and the other end to some convenient anch'orage such as the wall I0 or its bracket I5.

The modified form of construction illustrated in Figs, '7 to 9 is functionally the same as the form previously described herein, the prime difference therefrom being that the slotted guide plates are secured to the underface of the table, with slight structural modication in the outer end guide plate, and that the pair of cooperative pins are secured to lateral projections from theend wall and standard. Thus I provide an inner end guide plate 35 provided with a slot 36 and secure it to the under face of the table top I2 in spaced parallel relationship through the spacer strips 3l, by means of yscrews 38, so that the slot lies on the horizontal axis of the table top. Adjacent the outer end of the table top and to the under face thereof I similarly secure the guide plate 39 in spaced relationship through the strips 40, by means of screws 4I. The guide plate 39, similar to the guide plate 29, is provided with an arcuate slot portion 42 and an intersecting connecting radial slot portion 43, except that in this instance the slot portion 43 opens to the convex face of the arcuate portion 42.

A pin or headed bolt 44 is slidably engaged within the slot 36 and is xedly secured to the bearing plate 45, the bearing plate 45 being in turn secured between the transverse spacer strip 46 and the wall bracket 41, by suitable screws as at 48 and 49 respectively. The strip 46 may be additionally secured between the inclined concealment and stabilizer members I6, I6, and the bracket 41 may be additionally supported from the angle piece 50 secured to it and to the wall I Il. Similarly a pin or headed bolt 5I is slidably engaged through the slotted portions of guide plate 39 and is xedly secured to the bearing plate 52, the bearing plate 52 being in turn secured between the transverse spacer strip 53 and the standard ledge 54, by suitable screws as at 55 and 56 respectively.

In operation of this form of construction, movement of the table top longitudinally causes the aligned slots 42 and 36 of its carried guide plates to ride along the fixed pins l and 44 respectively until the outer ends of the slots abut against the pins in which position the table top is held against lateral or pivotal movement as i1- lustrated in Figs. 7 and 9. When the table top is moved longitudinally outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 8, to the limit of slot 36, which until such point acts as lateral movement locking means, arcuate slot 43 embraces pin 5| and thereafter the table top may be moved laterally within the limits of slot 43 about pin 44 as a pivot, to provide angular spacing between the table top I2 and a bench l l as described with respect to the form of Figs. 1 to 6. In this form I may likewise provide, although not illustrated, spring tension means to yieldably hold the table top in normal position if desired.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a rectangular table top and support means therefor of longitudinally slidable and pivotal engagement means interposed between them adjacent one end of the table top and longitudinally and arcuate laterally slidable engagement means interposed between them adjacent the opposed end of the table top whereby said table top may be successively moved longitudinally relative to its support means and the lattenend moved laterally in an arcuate path about the pivotal engagement means as an axis.

2. The combination with an elongated table top f adapted to be positioned endwise closely adjacent to a wall and in parallel relationship between a pair of opposed seats of substantially equal length thereto and xed support means therefor adjacent the opposed ends thereof of longitudinally slidable and pivotal engagement means interposed adjacent the wall end of said table top and longitudinally and laterally slidable engagement means interposed adjacent the outer end of the table top whereby said table top may be successively moved longitudinally to a limited extent in a direction away from said wall and the outer end moved laterally in an arcuate path about the pivotal engagement means as an axis to angular relationship to said seats.

3. The combination with an elongated table top and support means therefor of movable engagement means interposed therebetween comprising a guideway member adjacent one end of said table top formed with a slot extending longitudinally of the table top, a keeper pin in relative slidable and pivotal engagement therewith, a second guideway member adjacent the opposed end of said table top formed with an arcuate slot and a medially intersecting connecting slot extending in alignment with the slot in said rst mentioned guideway member, and a second keeper pin in relative slidable engagement with said second guideway member whereby said table top may be successively moved longitudinally and pivoted laterally to the limits of said arcuate slot about the axis of said rst mentioned keeper pin.

el. The combination with an elongated table top adapted to be positioned endwise closely adjacent to a wall and in parallel relationship between a pair of opposed seats of substantially equal length thereto and relatively nxed support means therefor adjacent the opposed ends thereof of movable engagement means interposed therebetween comprising a guideway member adjacent the wall end of said table top formed with a slot extending on the longitudinal axis of the table top, a keeper pin in relative slidable and pivotal engagement therewith, a second guideway member adjacent the outer end of said table top formed with an arcuate slot and a medially intersecting connecting slot extending in alignment with the slot in said wall end guideway member, and a second keeper pin in relative slidable engagement with said outer end guideway member whereby said table top may be successively moved longitudinally to a limited extent in a direction away from said wall and pivoted laterally to the limits of said arcuate slot about the axis of said rst mentioned keeper pin to angular relationship to said seats.

5. The combination with an elongated table top and relatively xed support means therefor adjacent the opposed ends thereof of movable engagement means interposed therebetween comprising a guideway member extending from one of said end supports parallel to said table top formed with a slot extending longitudinally of the table top, a keeper pin extending from said table top in relative slidable and pivotal engagement with said guideway member, a second guideway member extending from the opposed end support parallel to said table top formed with an arcuate slot and a radial intersecting connecting slot extending in alignment with the slot in said rst mentioned guideway member, and a second keeper pin extending from said table top in relative slidable engagement with said second guideway member whereby said table top may be successively moved longitudinally in a direction towards said arcuate slot and thereafter pivoted laterally to the limits of said arcuate slot about the axis of said rst mentioned rkeeper pin.

6. The combination with an elongated table top and relatively fixed support means therefor adjacent the opposed ends thereof of movable engagement means interposed therebetween comprising a guideway member secured to adjacent one end of said table top formed with a slot extending longitudinally of the table top, a keeper pin in relative slidable and pivotal engagement therewith extending from one of said end supports, a second guideway member secured to adjacent the opposed end of said table top formed with an arcuate slot and a radially extending intersecting connecting slot extending in alignment with the slot in said rst mentioned guideway member, and a second keeper pin extending from the opposed end support in relative slidable engagement with said second guideway member whereby said table top may be successively moved longitudinally in a direction towards said arcuate slot and thereafter pivoted laterally to the limits of said arcuate slot about the axis of said first mentioned keeper pin.

'7. The combination with an elongated table top and relatively fixed support means therefor extending under the opposed end portions thereof of pivotal engagement means interposed therebetween adjacent one end of the table top and laterally slidable engagement means interposed between them adjacent the opposed end of the table top whereby said table top may be moved laterally in an arcuate path about the pivotal engagement means as an axis and interposed interlocking engagement means for maintaining said table top in normal longitudinal alignment on its said support means.

GUSTAVE HARDER BINZ. 

